IPOB, Nigerian Army Lose Top Officers, As Troops Invade IPOB HQ in Imo

By Izunna Okafor

A combined team of security forces led by troops of the Nigerian Army have raided the operational Headquarters of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Awomama Village, Oru East LGA of Imo State.

The early morning raid by troops of Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) was launched in the early hours of Saturday 24 April, 2021, following a detailed intelligence report on the location of the IPOB/ESN Operational Headquarters and the movement of the overall Commander popularly known as Ikonson Commander.

The IRT and DSS teams along with troops of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army have been on the trail of the group since the unfortunate attacks on the Imo State Police Command and the Owerri Correctional Center on 5 April 2021.

The said Ikonson Commander who is being alleged to have masterminded those attacks in addition to multiple attacks in the South East and South South regions, was neutralised along with six of his top Commanders.

The joint intelligence team is reported to have earlier interviewed several arrested IPOB/ESN members in connection with the April 5 attacks and they all allegedly confessed that Ikonson Commander, who was named as Vice President by their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was the one that mobilized men and resources as well as ordered and orchestrated the attacks on Owerri.

The arrested persons were reported to also have revealed that Ikonson was responsible for many other attacks on Police stations across the two geo-political zones. The intelligence team later tracked the IPOB/ESN top leader to his exact location in Awomama village.

It is reported that, on noticing the presence of the joint operations team, IPOB/ESN team brought heavy volume of fire on the raiding team who also responded and overwhelmed them with fire power that neutralised Ikonson and six of his top Commanders.

A Second Lieutenant and three IRT operatives were also killed in the fire fight. We learned that the four officers who were killed have already been evacuated to a military facility in Owerri.

It was also reported that three AK 47 riffles, a Toyota Sienna van belonging to the group and several other items of value including drugs suspected to be psychotropic substances were recovered and are being processed by the intelligence team to assist in further investigations and operations in the area.

Reacting to the news of the incidence, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru commended the troops, the Police IRT and DSS operatives for their determination in ensuring that the operation was a success.

He prayed for the repose of the souls of the officers who lost their lives in the operation, stressing that their sacrifice will never be in vain.

He said that "the Nigerian Army along with other security agencies will sustain intelligence-based kinetic operations in the South East and South South until the regions are free..."